Chair



May 25, 1937. l. R. BROMAGEM 2,081,791

CHAIR Filed March 21, 1935 4 SheetsSheet 1 M y 1937- 1. R. BROMAGEM 2,081,791

CHAIR Filed March 21, 1935 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1937- R. BROMAGEM 2,081,791

CHAIR Filed March 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 25, 1937.

l. R. BROMAGEM CHAIR Filed March 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 23 Claims.

My invention relates to chairs, and particularly to theatre chairs.

The primary objects of the invention are concerned with improving the comfort, durability a and structural simplicity of chairs of the type indicated, decreasing the cost of production, and

decreasing the difllculty and labor of installation.

I achieve these and other ancillary and related objects and advantages by certain novel features of construction which will hereinafter be described in detail and claimed.

Theatre chairs generally comprise a pair of spaced vertical standards and a horizontal connecting member, together comprising a supporting frame, a seat portion and a back portion. Preferably the standards and the connecting member are so formed that each standard supports the ends of two connecting members, one extending from each side of the standard, so that each standard is common to two adjacent chair units. Hence the chairs are adapted to be disposed side by side in rows comprising any desired number of chairs.

My present invention is a chair unit of this type, including means whereby the standards and the connecting members for the standards are adapted to be associated in such a way that each standard iscommon to two adjacent chair units. I include novel means and a novel arrangement of parts for permitting adjacent chair units to be set either in parallel alignment or in angular relation, so that the row of chair units may be straight or curved, as may be desired to suit the requirements of any usual installation.

Among the principal features of the invention, however, are the seat and back elements of the chair units. By this invention these elements are made in a form which is exceedingly simple, durable and comfortable. My invention enables 40 me to dispense with the usual thick padding, coiled spring units, heavy metal base, side and back plates and the like, with no sacrifice in strength, durability or comfort.

' With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention comprises, in a preferred form of embodiment, the construction illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference character designates the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of, a chair unit;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of part of the seat frame and adjacent parts of the standard, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the back frame;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross section-a1 view of the back frame taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, showing the cover in place on the frame;

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross sectional view of a detail of the back frame;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of a detail of the cross member and one of the side standards of the supporting frame taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view of the seat frame, showing the seat cover in place, and partly broken away for economy of space;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a. detail of the front edge construction of the seat unit, taken along the line ill-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of one of the arm rests which surmount the side standards, showing in dotted lines the means for adjusting the side standards into and out of parallel relation with each other; and

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the upper part of one of the side standards showing the arm rest and appurtenant elements assembled therewith.

Referring now to the drawings, each chair unit comprises a supporting frame A, a seat unit B and a back unit C. p

The supporting frame may consist of a pair of side standards and a connecting cross tie. The side standards are each conveniently made ,of two spaced posts I, of rigid, durable metal or the like, connected by a cross stretcher member 2 and rising from the floor plate 3 which provides convenient means for securing the standards to a floor. Obviously other suitable means may be employed for mounting the side standards on a floor. The cross stretcher 2 is conveniently formed of a pair of plates welded or equivalently fixed to the posts I somewhat above the level of the floor or floor plate 3 and well below the level required for the top surface of the seat unit, later to be described. Each side face of the member 2 is provided with a pocket or socket 4 which receives one downturned end of a cross tie 5 (Fig. 3) which connects adjacent standards and cooperates with the standards to complete the essential structure of the supporting frame. The upper ends of each pair of posts I are connected by a plate or the like 6 which may be specially formed to receive an arm rest I. I find it convenient to use two closely parallel plates 6, or a single plate doubled on itself to provide a U- shaped cross section, thus forming a pocket for receiving a blade 8 carried by the arm rest 1, as shown in detail in Fig. 8. Each outer face of the plate 6 is provided with anoutstanding socket 9 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The seat element B of my chair comprises essentially a frame and. a covering for dressing and trimming the frame and forming the supporting element for the occupant of the chair. The frame is best made of spring metal bar stock, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9 and 10, and comprises an upper part which is the seat frame proper and an integrally connected lower part which constitutes a resilient support for the seat and which carries means formounting the seat frame on the supporting frame Aof the chair. The upper part of the seat frame includes a rear portion I 0 and side portions ll. Each side portion is turned downwardly and backwardly at its forward edge, as shown at l2, to form seat frame supporting portions 13, each of which terminates in a short, outwardly directed extension l4. Parallel to each of the portions I3 is a member l5, conveniently made of the same type of bar stock as the portions III, II, l3, which may have its rear end nested with the extension l4, and which diverges from the portion I3 about the point where the latter becomes the portion l2, terminating forwardly substantiallly at the horizontal level of the portions ll. Spaced parallel cross portions [6, l1 connect the forward ends of the portions l5. A clip I8 is fastenedto the engaged parallel portions l3, l5, and the clip has on its under surface an eye l9 which serves as a bearing by which the seat frame is rotatably journalled on the cross tie 5.

It will be evident that the parts described in the .preceding paragraph comprise a seat frame which, when the upper part is suitably covered or upholstered, will form a complete seat element and a resilient support therefor.

The covering which I prefer to use comprises a preferably heavy, strong fabric 20 such as canvas, drill or/the like, sewed to form an envelope or pocket which is snugly fitted over the U- shaped back l0 and sides ll of the upper portion of the seat frame. As best shown by Fig.

9, the 'under ply of the fabric envelope is hemmedat its forward edge around a filler rod or wire 2| which is crimped in a bead 22 formed along the edge of a U-shaped front plate 23 of sheet metal or the like, the lower, return bent portion 24 of which extends between the parallel cross portions l6, ll of the seat frame. The forward portion of the covering fabric 20 is fitted around the plate 23 and is secured to the cross portion ll of the seat frame through the medium of a connector 25 of sheet metal or the like which has one edge crimped around the portion l1 and its other edge crimped around a filler rod or wire 26 hemmed in the forward margin of the covering fabric 20. The margin of the lower, return bent portion 24 of the front plate 23 is doubled back on itself, as shown at 21, and carries a fixed guide 28 for a screw 29 which passes through a similar guide 39 carried on a plate 3| which is movable between the return bent portion 24 and the doubled back portion 21. The forward edge of the plate BI is crimped around the cross portion l5 of the seat frame, and a nut 32, which may be secured to the guide 30 or be,integral therewith, is threaded on the screw 29.

It will be evident that turning the screw 29 will result in regulating the tension of the seat frame covering 20 by causing the front plate 23 to move forwardly or backwardly while plate 3| remains fixed with respect to cross portion 15 and the other parts of the seat frame.

Obviously other means for tensioning and preserving the tension of the covering may be employed, but I prefer the arrangement just described because it is simple, inexpensive and effective and because adjustments to compensate for stretching of the covering 20 are easily made and require no tool beyond an ordinary screwdriver.

Figure 10 shows only one side margin of the seat front. It will be understood that the tension adjusting means there shown is preferably duplicated at the other side margin. The side margins of the covering fabric are best hemmed and neatly folded over the edges of the front plate 23, as shown at 33. Obviously the covering fabric may be any suitable flexible sheet material, such as leather, artificial leather, 'or the textile fabric suggested hereinabove.

The chair back 0 includes a frame conveniently made of spring metal bar stock, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, covered by an envelope of the type of fabric suggested for the seat element. The back frame comprises a top portion 34 and side portions 35 which terminate in forwardly bent lower horizontal end portions 36 (Figs. 3 and 4) with each of which is nested the lower end 31 of one of twov lengths of similar bar stock which extend upwardly into the generally U-shaped upper back frame structure and form an internal brace or reinforcement for the frame, designated generally D. The nested ends 36, 31 are secured together by a clip 38 which secures the pair of ends to the cross tie 5 just outwardly of the journal bearing which passes through the eye of the clip l8, heretofore described. The clip 38 cooperates with other means described hereinafter, to hold the back structure securely and immovably in the chair supporting frame A, and each pair of the substantially parallel end portions 36, 31 constitutes a fixed stop 39 for one of the extensions H of the seat frame. The seat may therefore be rotated bodily about thecross tie 5 from a vertical position (not shown) to the substantially horizontal oropen position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, lowering beyond the latter position being prevented by engagement of the extensions l4 with the stops '39.

Rearwardly of the stop 39 each length of bar stock which comprises the internal reinforcement D is bent up in substantial parallelism and engagement with the lower zone of the adjacent side portion 35 of the back frame, and the two lengths are connected by a cross tie 40 slightly above the level of the rear portion III of the seat frame when in opened or horizontal position. Above the level of the cross tie 40 the lengths are bent inwardly, as shown at 4|, to meet in a clip 42 at about the level of the upper ends of the posts 1 of the side standards of the chair,whence the lengths extend upwardly as shown at 43, to terminate in outwardly flared portions 44 which are welded or otherwise secured to the back frame top portion 34.

Flxed in the clip 42 is the midportion of a back frame center support 45 which is substantially horizontal and bent U-shaped in plan, each of its ends being turned down to form a hook 46 'which is received in a socket 9 of one of the plates 6 which connect the upper ends of each pair of side posts I.

The center support 45- is slightly curved or bowed rearwardly as shown by Fig. 6, as is also the internal brace or reinforcement D. The sides 35 of the back frame are bowed forwardly. Consequently the back frame covering 41, which is stretched over the frame portions 94, 95 and the internal brace D, but not over the center support 45, all as shown by Figs. 1 and 6, spans the shallow concavity of the chair back frame and provides a front surface against which an cecupant of the chair may lean and rest comfortably, the entire reaction of the back to the weight of the chair occupant being provided by the tensioned fabric covering 41, and not by any of the metal frame elements of the back. The covering envelope 41 is conveniently carried as far down as the cross tie 40, to which it may be secured in any suitable manner, preferably by hemming the front and rear portions of the envelope and clipping the ends to the cross tie.

As has been stated hereinbefore, chairs of the typeto which my invention relates are adapted to be arranged in rows in theatre and similar installations. It is frequently necessary to dispose the chairs of a row at an angle relatively to each other so that the row is curved. This requires that each pair of adjacent side standards be set at a slight angle with relation to each other. This angular setting is made possible by the connection provided by the socket 4 and the downturned end of the cross tie 5, as shown in Fig. 3, and by the connection provided by the hook 46 of the back frame center support 45 and the socket 9, as shown by Figs. 11 and 12. To lock the side frames in angularly adjusted relation, or in parallelism, as may be desired, I provide brackets 48 sleeved over the center support 45 and having a slotted arcuate finger through which a screw 49 passes to engage the threaded top of the rear post I of the side. standard. As shown by Figs. 11 and 12 each side standard may be related to the connected end of the center support 45 at any desired angle central tube with internally threaded ends in" which are engaged screw threaded ends of bar stock which carry the downtumed hook ends of the cross tie 5. By this arrangement the length of the cross tie is made adjustable within sufllcient limits to make a solid row of chairs of greater or less length, so that aisle lines may be kept straight by slightly compressing or expanding the width of each chair of a row.

It will be observed from the foregoing description of the invention in a preferred form of em,- bodiment that I have provided a simple and economical chair structure in which .very comfortable seat and back elements are formed without the use of padding, coiled springs, or other usual upholstery elements. Both the back and seat elementsmay consist of nothing more than L spring metal frame material and fabric covering.

- It will be noted that I have also provided a supporting frame structure which is simple and durable and which is easily accommodated to the requirements of practically any installation, permitting individual chairs to be made wider or narrower and to be disposed in straight or curved rows. In whatever condition the chairs are initially installed they remain permanently, as long asthey, continue fixed to the floor, yet adjustment, removal, and change to different chair widths and row forms may be readily made.

In the foregoing specification I have explained the principles of the invention in a single, preferred embodiment only. Such explanation is by way of exemplification and not limitation. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other and different forms. All such modifications, to the extent that they embody the principles of the invention-as defined by the appended claims are to be deemed within the scope and purview thereof.

I claim:

1. A chair comprising a supporting frame including side standards and a connecting cross tie, a seat element comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including an upper portion defining the outline of the seat element and a lower extended end portion continuous with the upper portion and mounted on the supporting frame solely at the cross tie for rotation about the cross tie, and a fabric covering for the skeleton frame of the seat.

2. A chair having relatively .fixed parts comprising a supporting frame including a cross member and a back frame secured to the supportin frame, a seat element comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including an upper portion defining the outline of the seat element and a lower extended end portion continuous with the upper portion and mounted on the cross member for rotation about the cross member, a fabric covering for the skeleton frame of the seat, a covering on the back frame, and means on the lower extended end of the seat element cooperating with a portion of the fixed parts of the chair for limiting the rotation of the seat element about the cross member.

3. A chair comprising a supporting frame including a side standard, a resilient skeleton back frame of spring metal mounted on the supporting frame at a lower part thereof, internal bracing for said back frame, a spring metal element secured to said bracin intermediate the side edges of the back frame, and means connecting said element and a part of the supporting frame higher than the first named part thereof.

4. A chair comprising a supporting frame including a side standard, a resilient skeleton back frame of spring metal mounted on the supporting frame at a lower part thereof, a transverse support secured to a higher part of the back frame substantially midway between the sides thereof, and means connecting said support and a part of the supporting frame higher than the first named part thereof.

5. In a chair, a supporting frame including side standards and a cross member directly connected at its opposite ends thereto to fix the spacing of the standards and support a seat element, and a seat element comprising an upper frame adapted to be covered by a stretched flexible sheet to provide a seat and having end portions extended rearwardly from and below the forward part of the seat rotatably engaged with the cross member for pivotally mounting the seat element.

6. A chair comprising a supporting frame, a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outer edge of the back and an inner stiffening element .connected at spaced points thereto and bowed rearwardly from the plane of said outer edge, whereby the skeleton frame is centrally dished rearwardly from said plane, means connecting the back to the supporting frame, and a flexible covering disposed in relatively taut condition over the outer element of the back and spaced away from the inner element thereof.

7. A chair comprising a supporting frame, a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the, outer edge of the back and an inner stiffening element connected at spaced points thereto and bowed rearwardly from the plane of said outer edge, whereby the skeleton frame is centrally dished rearwardly from said plane, means connecting the back to the supporting frame including an element connected to the supporting frame and secured to said inner element, and a flexible covering disposed in relatively taut condition over the outer element of the back and spaced away from the inner element thereof.

8. A chair comprising a supporting frame, a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner stifiening element connected at spaced points thereto and bowed rearwardly from the plane of the side portions of the outer element, whereby the skeleton frame is rearwardly dished, the inner element of the back having lower portions downwardly extended and connected to the supporting frame, and a flexible covering disposed in relatively taut condition over the outer element of the back and spaced away from the inner element thereof.

9. A. chair back comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner stiffening element connected at spaced points thereto and bowed rearwardly from the plane of the side portions of the outer element, whereby the skeleton frame is rearwardly dished, and a flexible covering disposed in relatively taut condition over the front and rear surfaces of the frame, the front portion of said covering being spaced away from the inner element of the frame.

10. A chair comprising a supporting frame including side standards and a connecting cross tie, a seat comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including a spring metal element U-shaped in plan, having portions defining the rear edge of the seat and the side edges thereof, the side edges being disposed downwardly at the front of the seat frame and extending thence rearwardly and substantially parallel to the side edge defining portions, means connecting an intermediate part of the rearwardly extended portions to the cross tie for pivotal movement thereabout, and a fabric covering for the U-shaped rear and side edges of the seat frame.

11. A chair seat element comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including a first spring metal element U-shaped in plan, having rear and side portions defining respectively the rear edge of the seat and the side edges thereof, the side edges being disposed downwardly at the front of the seat frame and extending thence rearwardly, a second spring metal element of U- shape having rearwardly extended portions disposed alongside of and connected to the rearwardly extending portions of the first spring metal element and having a transverse portion cooperating with the rear and side portions of the first element to define the front edge of the skeleton frame, and a fabric covering for said rear, side and front edges of the skeleton frame.

12. A chair seat element comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including a first spring metal element U-shaped in plan, having rear and side portions defining respectively the rear edge of the seat and the side edges thereof, the side edges being disposed downwardly at the ,front of the seat frame and extending thence rearwardly, a second spring metal element of U- shape having rearwardly extended portions disposed alongside of and connected to the rearwardly extending portions of the first spring metal element and having a transverse portion cooperating with the rear and side portions of the first element to define the front edge of the skeleton frame, a fabric covering for said rear, side and front edges of the skeleton frame, and adjustable means connecting the fabric covering to the transverse portion of the second spring metal element under variable tension.

13. In a chair having a supporting frame including a cross tie extending transversely thereof and a seat portion mounted on the cross tie, the combination of a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner element connected at spaced points to the outer element, portions of the back frame being extended from the lower part thereof and mounted on the cross tie, and resilient means spaced above the lower part of the back frame connecting the upper portion of the back frame to the supporting frame.

14. In a chair having a seat portion and a supporting frame including side standards, the combination of a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner element connected at spaced points to the outer element, portions of the back frame being extended from the lower part thereof and mounted on the supporting frame beneath the seat portion and in fixed relation to the side standards, and resilient means spaced above the lower part of the back frame connecting the upper portion of the back frame to the supporting frame.

15. In a chair having a supporting frame including side standards, a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner element connected at spaced points to the outer element, both elements being extended in substantial parallelism from opposite sides of the lower part of the back frame and connected to the supporting frame in fixed relation to the side standards to mount the back, and resilient means spaced above the lower part of the back frame connecting the upper portion of the back frame to the supporting frame.

16. In a chair having a seat portion and a supporting frame therefor, a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner element connected at spaced points to the outer element, both elements being extended in substantial parallelism from opposite sides of the lower part of the back frame and connected to the supporting frame in fixed relation thereto and below the seat portion, and resilient means spaced above the lower part of the back frame connecting the upper portion of the back frame to the supporting frame.

17. In a chair having a seat portion and a supporting frame therefor, a back includinga skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element defining the outline of the back and an inner element connected at spaced points to the outer element and having a portion disposed at substantially the mid-zone of the back,

portions of the back frame being extended from the lower part thereof and connected to the supporting frame beneath the seat portion and in fixed relation thereto, and a spring metal element connected to the supporting frame above the seat portion and to the portion of the inner element at the mid-zone of the back.

18. A chair having relatively fixed parts comprising a. supporting frame including a cross.

member and a back frame secured to the supporting frame, a seat element comprising a skeleton frame of spring metal including an upper portion defining the outline of the seat element and a lower rearwardly extended end portion' continuous with the upper portion and mounted on the cross member for rotation about the cross member, coverings for the seat and back frames, and means on the lower rearward- V ly extended end of the seat element cooperating with the underside of a portion of the fixed parts of the chair for abutting thereagainst to limit rotation of -the seat element about the cross member. 7 1

19. In a chair, a supporting frame including side standards and a cross member directly connected thereto to fix the spacing of the standards and support a seat element, and a seat element comprising an upper frame having a covering providing a seat and having lower portions extended rearwardly from the forward part of the upper frame, each of said lower portionshaving an intermediate portion fulcrumed on the cross member for mounting the seat element and having a rear terminal portion adapted to abut against a part rigid with the supporting frame to limit rotation of the seat element about the cross member.

20. A chair comprising a supporting frame including a pair of rigid side standards, each including a cross stretcher member, and a cross tie connecting said members to complete the supporting frame, a back including a skeleton frame formed of an inner stiffening element and a spring metal outer element connected togather to form a chair back, the outer element having its lower-portion mounted on the supporting frame, a fabric covering for the back frame, and resilient means spaced above the lower portion of the back frame connecting the inner stiffening element thereof to the side standards. I

21. A chair comprising a supporting frame, a back including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising an outer element having an inverted U-shaped portion defining the outline of the back and an inner stiffening element connected at spaced points thereto, means connecting said back to said suppor ing frame including a member connected to said supporting frame and secured to a point on said inner element, and a covering over the outer element of the back.

22. A chair seat element adapted to be mounted in a chair supporting 'frame, said seat element comprising a front cross piece and a rear cross piece, side pieces extending forwardly from the rear cross piece, a fabric covering for said front, rear and side pieces, and other side pieces extending downwardly and rearwardly from the front cross piece, the first named side pieces being bent down and back rearwardly of thefront cross piece and terminating in portions parallel with said other side pieces, and means connecting the parallel portions, said means being adapted to be mounted on a chair supporting frame.

- 23. In a chair, a supporting frame and a seat element including a skeleton frame of spring metal comprising seat frame side portions having end portions extended downwardly and rearwardly from the front ends of said seat frame side portions to form lower horizontal supporting portions, each of said horizontal supporting portions being pivoted between its ends directly on the supporting frame for movement about a horizontal axis, the parts of said supporting portions forward of said pivots being free of additional support on the supporting frame and a part of said supporting portions rearward of said pivots being engageable with a portion of the supporting frame to limit rotation of the seat element on said pivots.

' m R. BROMAGEM. 

